Anthropologie, a major clothing brand, has joined forces with Waste Management—the largest recycling company in the U.S.—to prevent plastic bags from ending up in landfills and promote a circular economy.
This partnership addresses a widespread problem highlighted in a recent article: the “poly bags” used in store backrooms. These large plastic bags complicate recycling efforts because most facilities struggle to break them down. Consequently, many retailers dispose of them as regular waste, where they linger in landfills for decades, contributing to the growing issue of microplastics contaminating natural resources, as reported by Fast Company.
Anthropologie, however, is taking a different path. According to Fast Company, store associates now collect these poly bags and send them to specialized recycling facilities. There, the bags are processed into pellets, which can be used to manufacture new products.
“It’s such a streamlined solution,” said Candan Erenguc, Anthropologie’s chief operating officer. “It was so easy to execute, but we’ve already managed to divert 60,000 pounds of plastic from landfills.”
By diverting these bags, Anthropologie is cutting down pollution, helping restore ecosystems, and keeping harmful microplastics out of waterways and the food supply.
This initiative stands out amid the staggering 9.1 million tons of plastic waste produced annually by the global clothing industry—accounting for 14% of all plastic waste across sectors. Reports show only about 9% of plastic packaging in the apparel industry is typically recycled, making Anthropologie’s efforts particularly meaningful.
Tara Hemmer, chief sustainability officer at Waste Management, told Fast Company that many companies are keen to follow suit. Anthropologie’s success highlights the power of simple, scalable solutions.
“Often the obstacle to bringing about change at scale isn’t technological — it’s logistical,” Fast Company noted. “People, as well as companies, are more likely to adopt new processes if they’re simple.”
Hemmer added that Waste Management stands ready to assist companies with any logistical challenges to expand such initiatives.
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